Artificial arm



Feb. 14, 1950 EDWARDS 2,497,493

ARTIFICIAL ARM Filed Aug. 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 avwento'c H. T.Edwards Feb. 14, 1950 EDWARDS 2,497,493

ARTIFICIAL ARM Filed Aug. 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 $4 3 3G I avwentoa34 Edwards Patented Feb. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTIFICIALABM Harold Theodore Edwards, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application August 19, 1946, Serial No. 691,543

2 Claims.

My present invention relates to' an improved artificial limb and moreparticularly to the novel and unique means employed in conjunction withthe limb for moving the extremities to efiect a natural solenoid controlof the fingers and hand so that the person using the limb of myinvention may be simply closing various switches located on a beltactuate selected solenoids to control the movement of the hand andfingers.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical embodiment of my invention according to the best mode Ihave thus far devised but it will be understood that various changes andalterations may be made in the exemplified structure within the scope ofthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an assembly view in elevation of the device constituting myinvention showing the operating controls therefor carried upon the bodyof the wearer.

Figure 2 is a. plan view of the artificial hand; and

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through one of thefingers.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like characters indicate likeparts I have illustrated the present preferred embodiment of myinvention as comprisinga harness including the securing straps 2 and 4adapted to be worn about the upper part of the ,body B and the shoulderplate S of the limb covers the shoulder of the wearer. A belt 6 being apart of the harness has thereon a multiplicity of switches 8 in circuitwith the battery [0.

A remote control switch l2 may be positioned about the natural hand byband l4, and the wire 16 leads from this switch to the switch controlbelt. i 7

The wire l8 from the belt passes over the shoulder harness along theupper arm 29 and the forearm 22 of the artificial limb, said radius orforearm 22 being connected to the artificial ulna H. A pivot 24 connectsthe upper and fore arms, and the lower end 26 of the forearm orartificial radius 22 is movably connected at 21 to a wrist portion thatis pivotally connected at 28 to the hand 30, through the journals 32.

To the hand-30 are secured fingers comprising housing sections 34, 36,and 38, the two sections 34' and 36 being beveled at 35 and 31 to permitflexing thereof. These housings which are identical except as to size ofthe several fingers and thumb are hollow and are provided withdetachable covers 40 secured by screws 42.

The sections have hinge ears 44 through which the hinge pins 46 passpermitting relative pivotal movement of the finger sections, and themovement thereof is controlled by the solenoids 48 located within thehousing sections. The armatures 50 of the solenoids are attached tolinks 52 moving on bearings 54, and the links pass through the adjoininghousing section and the heads 55 secure the links therein. The wires 56from the respective solenoids lead to the belt and through theappropriate switch to the battery. The thumb is attached to the hand 30through the ball 58 and the socket 60, the thumb sections beingidentical in construction and operation to the fingers.

Thus with the arm positioned on the body of the wearer and theelectrical connections properly set, the wearer may control the fingersby closing the desired switch or switches on the belt. By actuating oneset of solenoids the fingers will be flexed as when closing the fist,and upon actuation of the opposite set of solenoids, the fingers will bereturned to extended position.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An artificial hand including digits each of which comprises flexiblyconnected sections, and electro-magnetic meansv for controlling movementof the sections, said means including a separate pair of electro-magnetsfor each pair of adjacent sections, one electro-magnet of each pairadapted when energized for flexing of the sections, the otherelectro-magnet of each pair adapted when energized to return thesections to extended position.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 1,507,683 Pecorella Sept. 9,1924 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 116,054 Sweden Mar. 26, 1943311,455 Germany Mar. 17, 1919

